muffins and bottles of water.
“Bored yet?” he asks.
“Not at all. I’m curious, though. Why do you think grandmothers come to a college coffee shop?”
He sits down beside me. “Well, the shop has actually been here longer than the university. Plus, everyone knows Ms. Linda has the best muffins in town.”
I grin, because it’s obvious what brings the little old ladies to the shop, and it has nothing to do with Ms. Linda’s muffins.
For the next hour, we bombard each other with questions. That’s how I learn that he’s been crashing at a friend’s apartment.
“My roommate graduated and I couldn’t afford the apartment by myself. I couldn’t stand the thoughts of a dorm, so I’m staying with some buddies of mine. It’s not so bad. There are five of us, so it’s pretty much a constant party all the time, which sucks because I have to be up so early.”
“How early?
“Five o’clock.”
“ Five ? As in A.M.?
Brandon nods. “I work out each morning. It’s mandatory.”
I wonder why an engineering major would be required to exercise before dawn, but he changes the subject and asks about my family.
“I’m an only child. Mom lives in a small town just outside of Indianapolis.”
“What about your dad?”
I take a deep breath and stare down at my hands. It’s not that I mind talking about my father. I just never know how to explain it.
“I never met my dad. He was killed in Desert Storm before I was born.”
Brandon reaches for my hand.
“I didn’t know that. I’m sorry, Steph.”
“Thanks.” I squeeze his hand. “You know, they say it’s hard to miss something you never had, but they are full of it. I miss my dad every single day.”
“I understand. It must make you proud, though. Knowing he died defending his country.”
I bristle. It’s the same speech I’ve heard all my life. Some families probably find comfort in the fact that their loved ones died in combat. I’ve even had people tell me that I should consider it an honor.
I guess I’m selfish. I’d rather have my dad.
“Could we maybe talk about something else?”
Brandon nods and gives my hand a squeeze.
“Sure,” he says. “I know! Let’s talk about our first date. Is tomorrow good for you?”
I can’t help but laugh. “I thought this was our first date.”
“Absolutely not. This is muffins and water. First dates are supposed to be epic. It’s the story we’ll tell our children, and our grandchildren—”
“You know, you’re pretty confident for a guy who wears a paisley apron.”
He grins. “Tomorrow night. You, me, and my old VHS copy of The Princess Bride . I’ll kick the guys out of the apartment, and we’ll order a pizza.”
“How about my apartment, my DVD, and I’ll beg Tessa to cook?”
His dimpled smile melts my heart.
“It’s a date.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Stephanie
Tessa meets me at the door. “You’re home! How was your date?”
I stumble inside and drop my bag before hobbling toward the couch. “It wasn’t a date, according to Brandon. It was muffins and water. But you’ll be happy to know that our first official date is tomorrow night. And we’re staying in, so if you don’t mind, would you care to—”
“No problem. Xavier has a game.”
“You’re the best friend ever.”
Her happiness fades. “I . . . really hope you still think so after I tell you what I need to tell you.”
I’m instantly suspicious. I also notice her apron and a distinct aroma in the air.
“You’re baking peanut butter cookies.”
“Well, I know they’re your favorite.”
“Okay, what’s going on?”
“I really wanted to feed you first.”
“You can feed me later. Spill it.”
She sits down next to me. My beautiful best friend, who never loses her cool or gets nervous about anything, looks a little pale.
“Steph, you know you’re my best friend and that I would never, ever do anything to intentionally hurt you, right?”
“Which means you’re about to
“Bored yet?” he asks.
“Not at all. I’m curious, though. Why do you think grandmothers come to a college coffee shop?”
He sits down beside me. “Well, the shop has actually been here longer than the university. Plus, everyone knows Ms. Linda has the best muffins in town.”
I grin, because it’s obvious what brings the little old ladies to the shop, and it has nothing to do with Ms. Linda’s muffins.
For the next hour, we bombard each other with questions. That’s how I learn that he’s been crashing at a friend’s apartment.
“My roommate graduated and I couldn’t afford the apartment by myself. I couldn’t stand the thoughts of a dorm, so I’m staying with some buddies of mine. It’s not so bad. There are five of us, so it’s pretty much a constant party all the time, which sucks because I have to be up so early.”
“How early?
“Five o’clock.”
“ Five ? As in A.M.?
Brandon nods. “I work out each morning. It’s mandatory.”
I wonder why an engineering major would be required to exercise before dawn, but he changes the subject and asks about my family.
“I’m an only child. Mom lives in a small town just outside of Indianapolis.”
“What about your dad?”
I take a deep breath and stare down at my hands. It’s not that I mind talking about my father. I just never know how to explain it.
“I never met my dad. He was killed in Desert Storm before I was born.”
Brandon reaches for my hand.
“I didn’t know that. I’m sorry, Steph.”
“Thanks.” I squeeze his hand. “You know, they say it’s hard to miss something you never had, but they are full of it. I miss my dad every single day.”
“I understand. It must make you proud, though. Knowing he died defending his country.”
I bristle. It’s the same speech I’ve heard all my life. Some families probably find comfort in the fact that their loved ones died in combat. I’ve even had people tell me that I should consider it an honor.
I guess I’m selfish. I’d rather have my dad.
“Could we maybe talk about something else?”
Brandon nods and gives my hand a squeeze.
“Sure,” he says. “I know! Let’s talk about our first date. Is tomorrow good for you?”
I can’t help but laugh. “I thought this was our first date.”
“Absolutely not. This is muffins and water. First dates are supposed to be epic. It’s the story we’ll tell our children, and our grandchildren—”
“You know, you’re pretty confident for a guy who wears a paisley apron.”
He grins. “Tomorrow night. You, me, and my old VHS copy of The Princess Bride . I’ll kick the guys out of the apartment, and we’ll order a pizza.”
“How about my apartment, my DVD, and I’ll beg Tessa to cook?”
His dimpled smile melts my heart.
“It’s a date.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Stephanie
Tessa meets me at the door. “You’re home! How was your date?”
I stumble inside and drop my bag before hobbling toward the couch. “It wasn’t a date, according to Brandon. It was muffins and water. But you’ll be happy to know that our first official date is tomorrow night. And we’re staying in, so if you don’t mind, would you care to—”
“No problem. Xavier has a game.”
“You’re the best friend ever.”
Her happiness fades. “I . . . really hope you still think so after I tell you what I need to tell you.”
I’m instantly suspicious. I also notice her apron and a distinct aroma in the air.
“You’re baking peanut butter cookies.”
“Well, I know they’re your favorite.”
“Okay, what’s going on?”
“I really wanted to feed you first.”
“You can feed me later. Spill it.”
She sits down next to me. My beautiful best friend, who never loses her cool or gets nervous about anything, looks a little pale.
“Steph, you know you’re my best friend and that I would never, ever do anything to intentionally hurt you, right?”
“Which means you’re about to
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